Best Ri S Podcasts (2025)

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12-28-25 Narragansett Bay Chorus/A Cappella - Conducting Conversations 50:09

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2h ago50:09

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In celebration of the coming New Year, this week, we feature two singers from the Narragansett Bay Chorus as they bring us some of their favorite A Cappella music. The first part of the show features Josh Daly, a brand-new member, and then we welcome Kurt Anderson, VP of Music. We’ll be listening to some songs by eight different groups. For more in…

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12-26-25 Pianist/Composer Mike Renzi & Bassist/Vocalist Dick Lupino-December Songs - Jazz After Dinner 48:54

19h ago48:54

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This week, Joe is featuring Pianist/Composer Mike Renzi, Bassist/Vocalist Dick Lupino from their 2011 Self-Published recording titled “December Songs.”By Classical 95.9-FM WCRI

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12-19-25 Vocalist Ray Charles-"Spirit of Christmas" - Jazz After Dinner 48:59

2d ago48:59

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This week, Joe is featuring Vocalist Ray Charles from his 1985 Columbia Records recording, titled “The Spirit of Christmas.”By Classical 95.9-FM WCRI

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12-21-25 Shannon Corey - Conducting Conversations 48:00

8d ago48:00

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On what has become an annual Christmas show, this week we feature Shannon Corey, singer, composer, pianist, and teacher. We'll listen to her holiday song “Winter” and other songs from her Holiday CD, “I Wish I Had A River”. We’ll also discuss her career and how she has had the opportunity to travel the world singing. For more information, you can g…

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12-18-25 Sure Footing - A Walk In The Park 3:00

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This week, Jane looks at how things can turn out well in spite of nature.By Classical 95.9-FM WCRI

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S3 E:28 Extra Episode. Brown University Shooting and the failure of our culture. 58:50

4d ago58:50

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Send us a text We came back from our planned break to speak about the Brown University shooting, the weight of living near it, and the everyday systems that fail to protect people. Healthcare costs, campus safety, and community care weave into a candid, grounded conversation. • premium spikes, broken enrollment, and access gaps • moral injury of vu…

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12-14-25 Theatre by the Sea Announcing 2026 Musicals - Conducting Conversations 49:28

10d ago49:28

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Theatre By The Sea's announcement of the 2026 season is the subject of this week's program with Bill Hanney, owner of the theatre, and Karen Kessler, GM and Director of Marketing. We talk about next summer's musicals and listen to some of the very popular songs from Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, On Your Feet, and Titanic. For more information, yo…

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12-11-25 Sweeping Change - A Walk In The Park 3:00

11d ago3:00

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This week, Jane explores how nature corresponds to how we are feeling.By Classical 95.9-FM WCRI

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12-12-25 Vocalist Tony Bennett-A Swingin Christmas - Jazz After Dinner 48:03

16d ago48:03

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This week on Jazz After Dinner, Joe Features Vocalist Tony Bennett from his 2008 Sony Records recording, titled “A Swingin’ Christmas.”By Classical 95.9-FM WCRI

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S 3 Season Three Thanks And A Holiday Pause 2:06

25d ago2:06

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Send us a text Happy Holidays everyone. See you in 2026 and thank you for all the support. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/no-time-to-die License code: S4CEQWLNQXVZUMU4 Artwork and logo design by Misty Rae. Special thanks to Joanna Roux for editing help. Special thanks to the listeners and all the wonderful …

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S3 E:27 Healing Past Childhood Trauma 48:33

1M ago48:33

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Send us a text Wendy returns for reunion episode. Per listener request Matt shares some of his own personal trauma and how it impacted his relationships before and after his resolution. Below is the poem I wrote when I was 33. This is how raw the feelings were back then. Thankfully the pain has been healed. I am a bastard, thanks to you. I bet 33 y…

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S3 E: 26 When Empathy Becomes Policy: Food, Power, And The Cost Of Looking Away 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

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Send us a text Starvation isn’t a metaphor—it’s policy made real. Erika and I sit down on Halloween. A holiday that is ironically about asking for snacks from strangers. We map how a government shutdown can remove the barely sustainable payment rails for SNAP, why many families get far less than a livable food budget, and how the benefits cliff pun…

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S 3 E: 25 Lila’s Voice from Gaza 31:31

3M ago31:31

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Send us a text We share Lila’s frontline account from Gaza and the mutual aid network she helps lead for children and orphans, weaving her poetry with hard facts about blockade, targeted healthcare, and the human cost of deliberate deprivation. We explain how to get funds and attention to people on the ground and how to build people power where you…

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S 3 E: 24 Who counts as human when grief goes public? 58:58

3M ago58:58

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Send us a text We unpack reactions to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the messy truths of trauma responses, and why some grief gets megaphones while other suffering stays invisible. Trauma reactions come in many forms. But what is it that makes such a tidal wave of reactions when the targets are high profile white men, but a resounding silence w…

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S 3 E: 23 Holy Terror Part 2 1:06:34

3M ago1:06:34

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Send us a text Amy returns to United States of PTSD to complete her powerful story of surviving clergy sexual abuse and the long, winding path to healing through religious deconstruction. Following her abuse at age 15, Amy faced institutional gaslighting from the Catholic Church. Officials questioned what she "did to seduce" the priest and sent her…

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S:3 E 22 Holy Terror: When Faith Becomes Fear 1:17:06

4M ago1:17:06

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Send us a text Every survivor has a story that deserves to be heard. In this powerful conversation, we're joined by Amy, a social work student and survivor of religious trauma who shares her journey through high-control Catholicism and the devastating abuse she experienced, at the hands of a trusted priest. Amy takes us through her childhood immers…

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S 3 E: 21 Echoes of Cambodia's Killing Fields 57:45

4M ago57:45

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Send us a text Please welcome guest speaker Julie Botom-Richny Chhay. Julie shares her family's experience during the Cambodian genocide, drawing parallels to current genocide in Gaza and how generational trauma continues to impact survivors and their descendants. • Cambodia's genocide under Pol Pot's regime killed nearly 2 million people between 1…

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S 3 E: 20 Weaponizing the Human-Animal Bond: Police Dogs and Colonial Violence 1:05:20

5M ago1:05:20

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Send us a text Dog training experts Zak George and Bree join us to explore the dark side of animal training and how the weaponization of the human-animal bond perpetuates systems of oppression. We examine how our treatment of animals reflects deeper societal values about power, control, and our approach to both animal and human behavior. • Traditio…

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PTSD and Coming Out: A Palestinian American's Journey 1:10:35

5M ago1:10:35

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Send us a text John Demarjain shares his emotional journey of coming out as a gay Palestinian American, revealing the complex intersection of cultural identity, family values, and personal authenticity in Western and Middle Eastern contexts. • Western culture emphasizes (by design) individualism and independence, at the cost of community while Midd…

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S 3 E:19 School gun fire, corrupt politics, and dangerous rhetoric, oh my! 1:00:39

6M ago1:00:39

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Send us a text A foreshadowing of the national impending healthcare collapse as we see the beginnings of it in Rhode Island. As mental health workers face increasing dangers from understaffing, violence, and corporate retaliation against unionization efforts. Matt shares his terrifying classroom experience with possible gunfire, highlighting educat…

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S 3 E: 18 War, Trauma, and the Fight for Humanity 1:24:27

7M ago1:24:27

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Send us a text In this raw, unedited conversation, we process our emotional responses to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran while exploring how intergenerational trauma shapes our understanding of war. • Processing our emotional reactions to Israel's "preemptive strike" otherwise know as a declaration of war against Iran • Examining how m…

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S3 E:17 Finding Your Power When Everything Feels Out of Control 1:01:13

7M ago1:01:13

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Send us a text Matt and Erika explore how people in compassion-based professions navigate feelings of helplessness when confronted with systemic barriers and limitations beyond their control. • The challenges of working in compassion-based professions (healthcare, teaching, social work, veterinary medicine) within systems that often prioritize prof…

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S 3 E:16 Papers Please: Navigating America's Broken Immigration System 59:28

8M ago59:28

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Send us a text Immigration rights are under severe threat as communities across America face increasing persecution and detention without due process, with Kim DeLeon sharing her family's journey through the US immigration system and the fears they still face despite her husband's citizenship. We discuss how the immigration process is far more comp…

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S3 E: 15 Field Veterinarians and the Mental Health Crisis in Animal Disease Response 54:16

8M ago54:16

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Send us a text PS: Congress is trying to pass a bill that would prohibit the boycott of the genocidal state of Israel's products. Please contact your rep to tell them to vote against the bill and stop the madness. H.R.867 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): IGO Anti-Boycott Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress Field veterinarian Dr. Kathryn Cehrs sha…

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S 3 E:14 An Immigrant Story: Erased Histories: Ukraine's Past, Present, and Uncertain Future 53:32

8M ago53:32

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Send us a text Kate, a Ukrainian immigrant living in the US for 25 years, shares her journey navigating American systems while maintaining deep connections to her homeland during Russia's ongoing invasion. • Describes how Russian cultural dominance and systematic erasure of Ukrainian identity extends back centuries, not just since 2014 • Explains c…

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S3 E:13 When Goodbye Hurts: A Memorial to Hermes and the Grief of Losing a Pet 29:23

9M ago29:23

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Send us a text Pet grief cuts deeper than many realize. When my beloved cat Hermes passed away recently after 16 incredible years together, I found myself grappling with a profound sense of loss that inspired this raw, emotional episode. The story of Hermes begins in 2009, during a period of personal turmoil when this playful kitten literally ran i…

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S 3 E: 12 Division By Design: How Capitalism Profits From Our Political Hostility 51:38

10M ago51:38

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Send us a text Matt and Mike explore cognitive dissonance in political values, examining how party loyalty often overrides moral consistency, particularly regarding responses to global genocides versus performative corporate boycotts. • Discussion of selective outrage: boycotting companies for one day while ignoring ongoing genocides • Examination …

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S 3 E: 11 Selective Outrage and the Illusion of Neutrality in Politics 50:35

10M ago50:35

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Send us a text The episode delves into the concepts of cognitive dissonance and selective outrage, exploring how they shape our political identities and conversations. The hosts discuss the implications of a polarized political landscape and emphasize the importance of understanding differing perspectives as a path to unity and constructive change.…

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S 3 E:10 Walking Across Canada for Mental Health Change 50:11

11M ago50:11

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Send us a text Chad Kennedy's journey from trauma to transformation sheds light on mental health challenges faced by first responders and veterans. Through his Sea to Sea for PTSD initiative, he shares insights into finding the right therapy, the importance of connection, and the power of community in navigating mental health struggles. • Chad shar…

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S 3 E:9 Veterinary Voices: Advocacy, Diversity, and Human Rights Challenges Part 2 48:26

11M ago48:26

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Send us a text The episode dives into the intersection of veterinary medicine, social justice, and global crises, focusing on the personal experiences of veterinary students facing harassment at the hands of faculty. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of One Health, the varied cultural perspectives on the human-animal bond, and the vital role …

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S 3 E:8 Veterinary Voices: Advocacy, Diversity, and Human Rights Challenges Part 1 53:40

12M ago53:40

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Send us a text Please welcome back Dr. Ericka Hendel as their input is incredibly valuable and profound. This episode reveals the intersection of veterinary medicine and human rights, highlighting the struggles of students advocating for marginalized voices, particularly concerning Palestine. Panelists discuss issues of tokenization, selective empa…

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S 3 E: 7 From Trauma to Triumph: A Police Officer's Story 1:15:54

1y ago1:15:54

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Send us a text How does a seasoned police officer navigate the mental health challenges that come with the job? Captain Adam Myers, an officer with over two decades of experience, opens up about his journey through trauma and recovery in the latest episode of United States of PTSD. He takes us on a gripping ride through the aftermath of a critical …

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S 3 E: 6 Insurance problems and consequences of oppression. 58:22

1y ago58:22

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Send us a text What if the oppressive systems you navigate daily are pushing you to the brink? Join us as we welcome back Donna from "Healing Our Kindred Spirits" to confront the chaotic intersection of the U.S. healthcare system and societal tensions. We tackle the controversial shooting involving Luigi Mangione and the United CEO, diving deep int…

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S 3 E: 5 A Story of Resilience and Renewal 45:06

1y ago45:06

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Send us a text What happens when unexpected acts of kindness force you to confront your deepest fears? Dave Murphy shares his riveting story of surviving a brutal attack in 1994 that left him with PTSD, reshaping his life in unforeseen ways. As he navigates the thorny landscape of trauma, mental health, and recovery, Dave unveils how a moment of co…

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S 3 E:4 Challenging the Myth of the American Dream 45:40

1y ago45:40

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Send us a text Is the American Dream a myth we've all bought into, or is there a glimmer of truth hidden beneath its layers? Join us as we dissect the illusion of success and equality tied to this dream, especially relevant after Thanksgiving. Together, we challenge the narrative of individual achievement and underscore the often-overlooked impact …

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S 3 E: 3 The Invisible Struggles: Being Irrelevant 1:07:23

1y ago1:07:23

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Send us a text Facing the harsh reality of feeling invisible in the healthcare system can be overwhelming, especially when battling chronic conditions. Donna returns to share her courageous journey through the maze of medical gaslighting, where her invisible illnesses were often dismissed. We unravel the staggering fact that obtaining a proper diag…

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S 3 E: 2 Election disaster. When Political Fear Clouds Judgment 1:03:48

1y ago1:03:48

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Send us a text Political fear and cognitive dissonance take center stage as we examine the unsettling political climate most likely resulting from a national/cumulative PTSD. Discover how fear tactics shape voter behavior and the troubling disconnects between domestic and international issues. We challenge each challenge each person to confront the…

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S 3 E: 1 Spooky Season: Culture, Legends, and Fear 54:25

1y ago54:25

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Send us a text What if the Halloween traditions we've come to love are rooted in ancient fears and legends? Join us as we kick off season three of "The United States of PTSD" with a thrilling exploration of Halloween's origins, tracing its journey from Celtic rituals to the influence of Irish Catholics in America. With Julia taking a break, Cora st…

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S2 E 24 Veterinary Medicine and Mental Health Challenges 1:09:19

1y ago1:09:19

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Send us a text Join us for a profound conversation with our special guest, Dr. Erika Lin-Hendel, who enlightens us about the intricate intersections between veterinary medicine, mental health, and advocacy for marginalized communities. Discover their heartfelt dedication to inclusivity within veterinary clinics, as they shed light on the challenges…

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S2 E 23 The Emotional Weight of Political Discussions 56:23

1+ y ago56:23

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Send us a text Join Matt, Julia, and Cora as they navigate profound issues in today's episode of the United States of PTSD. They delve into the stark realities of political division, its emotional toll, and the complexities of discussing politics with your nearest and dearest. Through their candid experiences, they shed light on how political propa…

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S 2 E 22 Social Media Pressure on Modern Mothers 1:02:35

1+ y ago1:02:35

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Send us a text Picture yourself in the quiet, rural expanse of Connecticut when an unexpected visitor arrives, stirring up a series of chilling events. In our latest episode of United States of PTSD, Matt takes us through his harrowing encounter with a mysterious car in his driveway, a cryptic note, and a police investigation that uncovered connect…

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S2 E 21 The Truth about Diet Culture 1:09:01

1+ y ago1:09:01

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Send us a text Cramped airline seats and long security lines might sound like a travel nightmare, but Julia's recent trip to Scotland, Ireland, and the UK was anything but. She brings the adventure to life, sharing her awe at ancient castles and endearing Highland cows, while Matt injects humor with his witty tips on scoring a first-class upgrade o…